"Are you sure? That doesn't sound right? Titan never had a child, unless, he kept it a secret..."
"He did keep it a secret! The ink explains it all! He didn't want anyone to find it! The diary trusted your, or, knew it was you"
As Dream and I tried to debunk the secrets of the Titanos family, we fell asleep on the desks. The next morning, he woke me up. As I could see, he was a morning person-as I am the opposite.
"Wake up Sap!" He said, greeting me with his smile. It would lit up any room as his smile was bright.
I smiled back, as my eyes struggle to open themselves.
"How'd you sleep?"
"We slept on a desk, so I guess decent."
We giggle.
The doors open, it was the King. He found us. As I could peak through the door, the guards were quite beaten up, trying to keep the king from finding us. Dream and I stiffen up.
"Sapnap Titanos. Training starts in 5. The commander is waiting. Dream, we will chat."
His voice was like thunder. It could shake any surface and make everyone afraid. Dream and I, were afraid. The guards, were afraid. I accepted my position, Dream squeezed my hand; He was signaling me not to leave, not to fight. I felt sad. I faced him and told him:
"Until we meet again, Prince Clay"
I take my hands and made Dream release my hands. I gather my things from the desk and start walking out the Library doors, past his father-eyeing my every move. I never looked at Dream's reaction, and I regret it.
I walk down the hallways and corridors, meeting the handles of my room. I enter and start to pick my things. The gifts he gave me were thrown as I knew very well if I were caught with them, it would be the end of me. The other king may not be activated as I will accept my death. Love is a beautiful and will cause you happiness, but it can also be an opening for your own sake. You risk your life. I picked the shirt Dream gave me and I sat down on the bed sheets, staring at the piece of clothing. I start tearing up, as the tears drop on the shirt, leaving wet stains on the ivory silk. He cares about me. And...I did too. I kept denying his affection, the affection he was judged for. I wish I could show him that I felt the same. The kiss under the moonlight was just instinct, and he kissed me first. I want to kiss him again, I want to feel him again. I want to show him, that, I love him too. I bring the shirt up to myself, hugging it. Bringing to my face, being able to feel the love he put into sending me this. I set it aside, and I cover my face, forming a river of tears. I couldn't help it. I missed him. The one who didn't want to let me go. His hand wanting me to stay.
I leave the room empty, passing by the princes room. The door was open and I had the shirt with me. I entered quietly and layed the shirt on his bed, still with the tear stains. Fresh and with feeling. Maybe when he comes back, they will be dry but it will have my smell. I leave the front doors of the main hall. With a sigh, I step out of the castle and head to the barracks.
It was quite a walk to the barracks as they were at the very end of the castle walls. My feet were sore, but I still arrived with breath still in me.
I met with the commander. He gave me my training uniform, and told me my barrack. I was sent to Barrack 5 and there I met with a very interesting fella. He said he was named Jack...Jack Manifold was his full name. His accent was quite strong in the british side. He was very nice and welcoming as I got replaced inside the castle.
"Hello! You must be Sapnap! Welcome to the Barrack! Names Jack, Jack Manifold"
We shook hands and I introduced myself.
"I'm Sapnap! Sapnap Titanos! I...I sorta got myself kicked out of the castle." I chuckled.
"No worries, training the first week will be rough, but the rest of the time before war, it will be easier"
I smiled. He gave me a strong, tough vibe.
"Enough chit-chat! Hurry! Training starts in 2!"
I see him run out and grab his fingerless gloves.
I quickly change into my uniform and run out to the lines.
"As you know. This is another year of torment, despair, and bloodshed. The capitals said they will take over Solaris, which they will not. You will train as hard as possible. You may shed blood. You may even go to war still wounded, but you men, have spirit. Spirit to protect this kingdom."
The commander kept talking. He set us up with out partner for training, luckily, I got Jack. He took me over to our training area and introduced me to all the training equipment.
"Starting today, you will do condition. This is the week you will spill tears and sweat. Everything will be sore in your body, as every year you whine about it, I know."
He finishes his speech, it was motivational but I never really liked the part about spilling blood, even before going to the battlefield.
Jack and I got into conditioning. The first exercise was sword balance and agility. He taught me the basics about holding the sword, being able to aim right to their neck. It was tiring, as I kept messing up and sprained my wrist. Jack wrapped my wrist, telling me everything will be worth the training. He smiled and it motivated me. I trained, and trained, until I got everything to the perfection. Jack and I ran around the field, I accidentally cited Jack's cheek, but he was okay about it. He was proud of me. The barrack nightly chats were entertaining. Another man called Connor, was the motivational speaker.
"Fellas! Another year, another chance! We won the war from the last year and we can do it again! A new recruit, Sapnap! Welcome to the Barracks."
Everyone gave me back pats as a welcome. It felt like home. Being in the castle was too fancy and too much for me. I was so used to the mud and dirty mess. The smell of acid was really familiar and I would flashback to me and George running around in the mud during rainy days.
"We will train hard! We will win these battles for Solaris, even if it means dying trying! Silvers may be the inferior, but we have much more spirit than the palladium blooded!"
Everyone cheered along. The entire time, my head was always heading towards Prince Clay. I saw him outside once, staring at me as I ran with Jack.
"Look Sapnap, the Prince is quite interested in you."
I told Jack that I was interested in the Prince and everything that happened when I was a servant. He was accepting and comforting. He wasn't weirded out as he too, had a kid that was like me. His wife was waiting. He visited her on holidays, which was nice.
I didn't have the heart to look at Dream. If I did, I would sprint to him and kiss him until we tumbled to the floor, but, I can't really show that here.
We ran past, and I kept looking at Jack, laughing and chatting. I regret not seeing Dream.
"Sapnap. What's wrong? He kept looking at you. I could see a smile when he saw you but when you looked away, his face changed and walked away. What happened between you two that you haven't told me?"
It was hard trying to explain how my feelings will kill me. If I showed the commander about my feelings to the Prince; A Silver loving a Palladium blooded prince would lower my ranks. He doesn't know about my "accident" which was good because it would cause tension between me and him.
"Jack, if I just see him, i'd want to run to him and kiss him. I left him there, in the library. He held my hand and I had to gently make his hand let go. I couldn't help myself look at him break because of me."
Jack understood where I came from, as I could tell from his response.
"I understand, It's quite hard hiding your feelings, even if it's someone like him. But trust me, once we beat this war, you and him can finally see again."
-
I walked outside, to the battlefield. I still felt Sapnap's hand drift away from me. Losing his touch. I caught my eye on him, as he was running with a tall fellow. I wanted to talk to him, and waved to Sapnap, smiling. Sapnap looked away, though. My heart started to shatter. His friend signaled me, a message, exactly. It told me that Sapnap will meet me in the rose garden at midnight. I agreed but left with some tears in my eyes. I don't want to lose him, not him. I care too much about him to see his blood be spread on dirt and mud, or even worse, on a gun or a sword.
Midnight arrived and snuck out, to the rose garden, and there he was, standing there. He was the beautiful under the moonlight, as his curly black hair shined under it.
-
Jack wanted to meet me by the rose garden. He never told me why, and I heard someone talk. I turned around and there he was. Dream.
"Sapnap...hi..."
I stood still, but I ran to him.
"Sapnap I..."
I kissed him, mid-sentence. My feelings took over. The kiss felt amazing. Sparks going all over. I broke the kiss by saying:
"I'm sorry for leaving you like that. Your dad was there, and had to act royal. My heart broke when I left you like that."
"I received the shirt I gave you. Your tears were on it, as I could tell."
"I love you too much, Dream."
"Stop talking..."
He kissed me back and held me close. I kissed back. Breathing was hard, which made it better. We breathed the same air trying to catch it. Seeing him, feeling him was amazing. I missed his body against mine, as his lips brushed against mine. My body was sore, but with him, all that pain went away. It was the best kiss I've had.
-
Morning came along and we got a new recruit. I was quite into my sleep, still rewinding back to the kiss. Training started and Jack and I got to the final training stage of conditioning. I was sore but it had to do with guns. Luckily, I haven't used my flames or showed them. I don't want anyone to see me as a freak.
We were in the gun area, a before I shot a target, my arm got shot and I dropped the gun. I couldn't yelp, so I held it in. The commander ran to me with a first aid kit, and helped me. My arm would be healed soon but not at this moment. He wrapped it before he knew my limbs were going back to place. I had to act like I was in pain.
Me and Dream were meeting up in secret, telling our stories, our past lovers, etc. We would always meet by the rose garden, where we had our kiss. Every meet up, he would always tell me he was going to find a way to not let me go to war.
It was my last day, as I was going to the battlefield. I met up with Dream, greeting with a kiss. I told him, and he wasn't happy.
"It's my last day, Dream. I'm going to the battlefield tomorrow."
"Sap...no...you can't...you are the last of the titanos blood. You can still be saved. You are different. Someone with abilities."
"Dream...I can't. It will only put me into more training, and I can't. My blood is silver. not red."
"Sap, please! Look at what you can save! You can fix this!"
"Look at me! I'm silver!"
I cut my wrist, to show Clay my real colors.
"I wasn't born red, I can't do anything about it!"
"Sap! Don't cut yourself!!"
He grabbed my wrist and grabbed a piece of cloth, trying to stop the bleeding.
"I'm silver."
"I can protect you! Everyone will know you are red!"
"What is there to protect? Look around, Dream. This is the world we live in now!"
"We can be together! Cmon Now! Please"
"Is this about us, or about you?"
My voice started to sneer.
"W-what? Sap, no..."
"Do you really actually think, me, a silver blooded "so-called" red can save this? No! I bet you are doing this so you can finally be free of your dear ol' dad. Once Ive saved this kingdom, you can finally leave me and go run off with who you actually love! isn't it???"
He was using me, I could tell. He couldn't cry himself out of this one.
"Sapnap! What are you talking about!? You know I only care about you! Where are you getting this from?!"
I remember he talked about his old love, Gabriel. When he fell asleep, I explored the library and found his family. He was still alive. Breathing. I kept reading. He never died, it was only a distraction to "protect him" He's living at the Capital or Rolandious. I had to act like I didn't know, or care, of course. I loved Dream. I really do. But, i'm skeptical. Until he brought this up. So, I brought him up.
"Gabriel is still alive..."
I could see his face flush.
"You knew..didn't you..."
"Sap...I-I I can explain-"
"No. Ive had enough. You can run to him. Go find out if he's red then too, now!"
I turn my back around and say:
"I think dying in battle will be the best thing that will happen to me."
-
Sapnap walked away from me. Those words cutter deeper into my heart, shattering it. I stood there. Gabriel was alive, but that didn't matter. I only cared about Sapnap, and only him. Yeah, I may have hid him for a while, but, I met Sap. Someone who has so much more potential. His headband flew with the wind, heading to battle. I started to cry, as much as I hate saying this, I cry a lot. It's annoying, but I do. He's leaving me. Leaving me to die in there. He knew all along. All those kisses, all those moments...were just to hide the fact he knew Gabe was still alive. He loves me, but, he thinks I love my old lover still.
-
I walk back into the barracks, gathering my things for battle. I sounded harsh, and I wanted to run back and apologize, but, I've had enough of pity moves. He only used me, he never loved me. Those promises back then, were only to get closer to his and Gabriel's freedom. I'd rather die than see them together.
Jack checked up on me.
"Heya Sap, what's up with ya?"
"Nothing really, just pumped for this battle!"
"That's the spirit! If you need anything, tell me!"
"Alright!"
We head out of the barracks. Dream was gone from the spot we argued. I felt shame and guilt, but that wasn't going to stop me from fighting. We started to line up, ready to match. Before we knew it, a bomb flew over us and into the castle. It hit one of the pillars.
Dream!
Everyone started to freak out, and the others pushed in. I was sprinting to the castle as everyone was escaping. I yelled his name.
"Dream!! Prince Clay!!"
I started to freak out. I went to every corridor, every room, he wasn't anywhere. Another bomb came, and hit the glass, shattering in front of me. The lights went out completely. It was time. I brought out my flame, and sparks to ignite the dark areas. The pipes were broken, and if water touched it, it would be the end of this castle. I ran around still, looking for him. He must be safe, maybe. Another and another bomb came by. Hitting the pillars and roof. Crashing and hitting, breaking everything in its way. I could hear the soldiers outside.
I ran to where we were at, and half of our men were dead because of the impact. I guess Dream was safe with his father. I eyed Jack as he was shooting the other men.
"Jack!" I coughed, because of the dust and smoke, "Where is my gun?!"
"It's broken! It got exploded by the bombs!"
I had to use my powers, there was no choice. I went to the front lines.
"Sapnap! What on Earth's Hell are you doing!? Get back into position!!"
The commander was yelling at me. I formed a flame in my hand, and made it as bright as the sun. It burned every single of the soldiers of the other side. They were small enough for my flame. I released a huge surge of flames to them. Some water benders survived but got shot in the process. I could feel a mark forming on my face. My Titanos mark.
"What the actual, Sap?" the commander replied.
I showed who I really was.
I could see Dream, with his mom. I could see he was staring at me. He saw the real me. I'm no red, but I guess I was supposed to be.
He ran to me and hugged me. I was in shock as we argued a few minutes ago.
"Sapnap! You are safe! I saw you run into the castle and wanted to go after you but more bombs came and-"
"Shh. It's okay. I'm sorry I acted to rough on you. I know your love me. I must be overreacting."
I brush his hair. It was soft.
I could feel him cry on my chest. Everyone was in shock. The Silver with Abilities.
"Sapnap Titanos, eh?"
The commander was looking at me.
"You have balls"
"Thank you? I think"
As time progressed, I got ranked higher, but, not as high as Palladium's. I was still in the same barracks, but, with more privilege. I kept getting asked so many questions I couldn't keep up.
A new queen, took over. Dream's mom died in her bathtub. Apparently she drowned which was strange. The new queen was the King's Second place queenstrial. And, as I would guess, Dream had to get married.
Before I knew it, I went from a medium rank, back to a servant. It was such a quick process but it happened. I went back to square one. The kingdom knew I had abilities. I was nicknamed "The Flame Boy".
The Queenstrial was held outside, as the interior arena was completed destroyed. This felt familiar, as it happened quite a few weeks ago, I'd say. The princesses dueled, but, all the sudden, I got called.
"Sapnap Titanos, you will be going against Elise Rosyos."
Both of us gasped. I was just a servant back to square one...
"I want to see what you are made of"
I got shoved into the arena, as so was Elise. This was unfair. A boy vs A girl. She threw the first punch. Her steel shards went flying to me, cutting me. My limbs healed and she got grossed out. I formed a shield of fire, and ran to towards her. Her shard shield was build too quick but it was melting. I could win, but she did a full counter and made the flames go everywhere; causing the entire arena to be into flames.
"Is that all you got, Silver?"
"I've just gotten started" and I wipe a drip of blood from my lip.